Cronin targets podium in revived BRC

Irish Tarmac Championship leaders Ballylickey’s Keith Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) seeking victory in the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally, the second round of the campaign. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Motorsport

As Keith Cronin embarks on his bid to win the Probite British Rally Championship for a record-equalling fifth time beneath the “Drive for Five” slogan, the Ballylickey ace does so in a rich vein of form. Yet, while he arrives in Garstang (near Preston) against the backdrop of an impressive victory in last weekend’s first ever three-day Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally, he’s taking nothing for granted. This season’s revamped BRC has attracted a star-studded entry for Saturday opening ten-stage Legend Fires North West Rally.

The BRC resurgence is remarkable, with television coverage on ITV4 and ITVX throughout the season.

Former European Rally champion Chris Ingram heads the entry in a VW Polo GTi R5 - before he switches to a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 from the third round onwards - and is seen as the favourite given that he won the event when it was last held in 2022.

It’s a new event for Cronin and many others. “It’s a very strong line-up, we have to be realistic, a podium would be a great result for us and to get some solid points on the board. The road surface there can be very different to home. What works here in terms of suspension set-up may not work in Lancashire, or for that matter on the other tarmac rounds in Scotland and Wales.” 

Cronin added, “Last autumn Chris (Ingram) did a rally in France and was only 16s off nine-times world champion Sebastien Loeb after ten stages and a second behind Stephane Lefevbre.” 

Cronin has familiar faces following behind with former British champion Osian Pryce (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Welsh ace Meirion Evans in the MEM run Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car, and reigning World Junior champion William Creighton in the M-Sport run Ford Fiesta Rally2. 

“Osian beat us to the BRC title in 2022, Meirion Evans came across to Ireland and won some of the Tarmac Championship rounds over the past couple of years and William set some fastest times in West Cork at the weekend.” 

With just one service halt (after SS5), Cronin agreed tyre choice will be key. “Absolutely crucial, especially if conditions are mixed. We get to pick our tyres in the morning before the start so it’s got to be right, otherwise it will be difficult.” 

In comparison to recent BRC outings where seat time was limited, Cronin’s time in the car over the 18 stages in Clonakilty should see him in good stead. It’s a busy time as his Irish Tarmac campaign will see him in action on the Circuit of Ireland next weekend. For the moment though the focus is on the BRC and while critical of the series in the recent past due to the cost of competing in events such as Rally Ypres, he added, “The organisers have done a lot of work to boost the series and have to be given credit where it's due. The strength of the entry is a reflection of that.” 

MI Academy driver William Creighton, who is also contesting the series to bolster his WRC2 outings, should benefit from his third-place outing in West Cork. Like Cronin, Pryce and Evans, he hasn’t competed in the event previously and that will make for an interesting comparison. The first stage begins at 9am.